The Enugu Good Governance Group (E-3G) has fingered the Labour Party governorship candidate in the 2023 general election, Chijioke Edeoga, in what it described as attempts by some ‘political losers’ to undermine the multiple development projects being proposed or executed in Eha-Amufu communities in particular and Isi-Uzo LGA in general to address the nagging security and development challenges in the rural communities.
The group, which its National Coordinator also hails from Eha-Amufu, said it was “sad that some people were yet to come to terms that elections were over and it was time for governance where every stakeholder was expected to work to attract development projects to his community irrespective of which political party they belong to.”
In a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Odinaka Okechukwu, the Enugu Good Governance Group wondered why Edeoga, whom it accused of not executing or attracting a single development project to Eha-Amufu communities or addressing the security challenges in the communities, for the over two decades he held various political positions and postured as ranking Leader, should play politics with the efforts of the Dr. Peter Mbah administration to “wipe away the tears of Eha-Amufu and Isi-Uzo people.”
The statement released to newsmen in Enugu, Wednesday morning, said: “Everyone who belongs to Eha-Amufu or Isi-Uzo WhatsApp platforms will bear witness that Chijioke Edeoga has not been at mind’s rest since the video of the warm reception accorded to the representatives of government, who were in the community to further process the various development projects proposed for Eha-Amufu communities surfaced on the social media.
“The projects include the establishment of army barracks in Eha-Amufu; immediate construction of the Agu-Mgbuji-Ogete-Eha-Amufu road, construction of the Ikem-Nkwo-Odenigbo-Eha-Amufu-Ichama Benue road, construction of the Mgbuji road and bridge, and the establishment of a Produce City for the production, processing, packaging and marketing of agricultural products.
“These are in addition to the ongoing Owo-Ubahu-Amankanu-Neke-Ikem dual carriage road that will further open Isi-Uzo to socio-economic prosperity.
“It is on record that Edeoga has no single project to his name for the over 20 decades that he bestrode and reaped the political fortunes of Isi-Uzo as Press Secretary to ex-Governor Okwesilieze Nwodo, Council Chairman of Isi-Uzo LGA, Member House of Representatives, Special Adviser to Deputy Senate President, Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Commissioner for Local Government Affairs from 2015 to 2019 and Commissioner for Environment from 2019 to 2022 when he joined the governorship race.
“It is also on record that the only constituency project attracted by Chijioke Edeoga as House of Reps member representing both Enugu East and Isi-Uzo LGAs is still at dwarf stage, uncompleted, dilapidated, and overgrown by weeds for more than 23 years.
“It is likewise on record that the only legacy infrastructural development at the Isi-Uzo LG headquarters, in 47 years, is the ultra-modern two-storey complex constructed by the present Council administration in just eight months.
“Furthermore, it is an open knowledge that Edeoga spent most of his time in government extorting lands from the poor and running the town union through his stooges for donkey years without a bank account for proper tracking of the huge sums accruing from Mgbuji economic resources like timber and other economic trees as series of protests, petitions, police cases, and lawsuits regarding his excesses clearly show.
“We, therefore, have cause to believe that Edeoga’s opposition to the laudable projects of Governor Peter Mbah and attempts to manipulate and incite the people of Eha-Amufu against the administration is the fear that his misuse of the Isi-Uzo political opportunities have been exposed by the multiple ongoing and proposed projects and that he will be political dawned at the completion of the projects.”
E-3G pledged total support for the projects of the Mbah administration in Isi-Uzo in general and Eha-Amufu in particular, commending the governor for remembering the people of the area.
“Even if the governor is playing politics by fulfilling his campaign promises to Eha-Amufu and Isi-Uzo as being alleged/feared by Edeoga and his agents, we still welcome and commend these projects. The Enugu Good Governance Group (E-3G) subscribes to politics of development and wished that Edeoga had used his opportunities well to the benefit of the people.”
